Eberron Book One Stories
Page 8
Friends or Foe
by Billy Scoop
An Eberron News Article
Fairhaven was rocked by the suspected terrorist attack on its Airship tower last week on the 15th of Sul, Zarantyr. Witnesses claim a large explosion destroyed the upper part of the tower, as a large creature was seen flying from the tower and swooping down over the rooftops of the capitol of Aundair.
Experts from within the Queen’s Guard, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the attack came timed with another attack on the renown Rose Circle Theatre, in Fairhaven’s Noble district. The Queen’s Guard was on hand to arrest the saboteurs but were unable to apprehend the culprits.
A new interesting angle seems to have changed the possible culprits. "This was no terrorist attack," or expert said. "This was the vile and underhanded actions of a group of adventurers. Ever since the end of the war, hordes of adventurers have gone out seeking fame and fortune and have become a blight upon us all."
I took the opportunity to research the descriptions of this so called hooligan adventurers and came across many more encounters with the same group.
"Yes, but they are more than mere hooligans. They pose a distinct danger to the people of Khorvaire," said Zrath d’Cannith, a high ranking member of Sharn’s House Cannith enclave. "They currently still have warrants out for their arrests here in Sharn for resisting arrest and for the willful attack on a House Cannith member."
Serious charges, but there are some who claim that adventurers are not the problem. I spoke with a Captain from Sharn’s own City Watch, "Aye, of course you’ll have a few bad eggs in the mix that happens no matter where you go, but not this group. They stopped the rodent attacks plaguing the marketplaces, and destroyed the eldritch machine that was wreaking havoc on the city. Sure I’ll have to arrest them, but they’re gonna get all the respect they deserve."
"They’re heroes!" a woman who said when she heard about our investigation. "I was trapped on the Orien Lightning Rail when the elemental ran amok. These brave souls made sure everyone was safe and took care of that beast. They were amazing, all of them."
Despite all this, House Deneith has been ordered to send its Sentinel Marshalls to capture and question this group of adventurers. Yet even amongst their own ranks, not all agree with the decision. "I met personally with a couple of these adventurers. She and her friends saved the life of me and my comrades. I can’t believe that they are capable of the damage and harm that they have been accused of. "The young soldier was not a member of the Sentinel Marshall, but claimed," Even if I was, I wouldn’t hunt them down. They’re heroes, and House Deneith owes them."
"Whether heroes or terrorists, the law is the law, and the Sentinel Marshalls have been given permission to bring these adventurers in and question them." said Captain Alastair d’Deneith, General Marshall of the West. It’s the various courts of the nations of Khorvaire who must determine their innocence or guilt."
And as these heroes are searched, the question we all must ask ourselves, are adventurers, whether they brave the depths of old ruins, or take on deeds amongst the bustling metropolises, friends of Khorvaire, or just another plague, another scar of the Great War.
Triple Crescent
"Ahh" he screamed as the giant elk stopped suddenly, launching him from his seat right into the muck. His partner, seeing him launched, braced himself for the same sudden stop and managed to stay on the back of his elk. Once he was sure he was not going to fall, he proceeded to laugh at his partner’s misfortune.
"It’s not funny Silas." The young shifter picked himself up, realizing he was covered in mud and sighed. His human partner, seeing this, continued laughing, so much so that the elk he was riding bucked him right off.
"That’s what you get for laughing at me." The shifter looked impatiently at Silas as he continued to laugh uncontrollably from the ground. An idea flashed across his mind, and he grinned mischievously.
Silas looked up through his laughter and recognized that smile, he was about to regret laughing. "Now Slade, don’t be rash here, it was funny." But it was too late.
Slade grinned wide and he dug deep into himself, pulling up that primordial force he knew lay within him. The elk sensed what was happening and began to slowly back away. Slade felt the power rush through him, his features began to change, his skin becoming thicker, compact. He felt the mud being pushed to the edges of his now thick fur. He looked through feral eyes at Silas.
Silas stood and tried to back away but it was too late. Slade shook furiously, the now loose mud flying everywhere, mainly on Silas.
Slade broke out into a animal like laugh as he shifted back to his normal state, the look on his partner’s face worth the tiredness he’ll feel from shifting.
"Fine, we’re even. Now, can we please find out why they stopped so suddenly?" Silas wiped the mud from his face and hair, trying his best not to giggle at the whole situation.
Slade went right into scout mode and began looking around for any clues as to the elk’s sudden stop. The dire elk were well trained and trusted mounts. The thick forests of the deeper parts of Eldeen made it difficult to travel quickly. The dire elks’ natural agility and sheer size, as well as natural ability to travel through the thickest parts of the forest at full speed made them ideal mounts, especially for scouts such as Slade and Silas.
"Well?" Silas whispered, he had gotten his bow out and was right behind the shifter as he moved quietly through the forest.
"Something……strange." Slade said. "The odor is faint, must have been a few days since it had passed. Whoever they were, they covered their tracks, looks like it was only the scent that spooked the elk."
"That doesn’t make sense, these elk aren’t skittish, no way a scent days old would have…" he didn’t need to see Sladess gesture to be quiet, he heard the noise too.
Something was out in the forest with them, something that was able to get real close without them noticing until now.
Silas watched as Slade’s hands made communicative gestures. ’One beast.’ ’Large.’ ’Displacer Beast’.
Displacer beast? Silas knew they were far from any displacer beast territories, what was one doing this far south in the forest.
He signaled back to Slade ’Wanderer’ "Outcast’ "Dangerous.’
Slade nodded, a rogue displacer beast away from the pack was never a good thing. It might be injured, sick or crazy, either option made the beast very dangerous to be near; it had to be dealt with.
The beast wasn’t within sight yet, Silas and Slade got quickly to setting up an ambush. Silas waited with his bow, he knew he would get maybe 3 shots before the beast would bee to close and he’d have to use his scimitar. The beast came within sight, Silas hesitated, and then fired. From the other side of the beast he heard Slade roar and pounce upon the displacer beast, He knew that while shifted it was a lot harder to hurt the shifter, but still, he wished he would be less reckless.
Slade tore into the creature, his hand claws allowing him to really latch onto the displacer beast. It was moments but the surprised creature was brought down easily.
Silas came running down from his hiding spot and looked at the beast, the same surprised look on his face that must have been on Slade’s face.
"It’s armored." Silas said, looking at the beast. "Why would a displacer beast be armored?"
Slade grabbed the ripped parts of the hide armor he had tore off in his attack and looked for what he suspected. "A triple crescent" he snarled. He had heard the rumors but this was the proof they needed. "We have to get back to…" He looked up in time to see the massive blade pierce his partner’s body. A Great War Troll appeared out of the air, the spell which hid him from their sight breaking away.
"Run!" Silas gurgled, his body falling forward as the sword was pulled back.
A hideous grin crossed the face of the troll as he lifted his massive sword.
Slade crouched down, he would grieve later for now, and he pulled from deep within himself. He felt that same surge, his grief feeding the change, the shift. He felt that primal power as he let out a howl, his legs extended, his muscles there growing to almost twice their size. He felt himself actually feel light as he ran. His supernatural speed allowing him to run faster than ever had before.
He ran, and ran. He had to bring this proof back to Greenheart, he had to warn the others.
He had to tell everyone, or Silas’ death would be in vain.
He gripped tightly the piece of armor with the triple crescent. It’s meaning was clear.
War.
